Verse 18
18. Ordinarily liberty and safety might be purchased from an invader by the payment of a heavy tribute, and thus the Egyptians are said to have purchased their freedom from the Scythians (see p. 511), but in this case gold and silver will not tempt the divinely appointed executioner (Isaiah 13:17; Ezekiel 7:19; compare Proverbs 11:4).
The whole land Judah; not “the whole earth,” for in Zephaniah 1:4-18 the prophet confines himself to Judah and Jerusalem (not so in Zephaniah 3:8).
The fire of his jealousy See on Joel 2:18. In this case, however, the divine resentment is aroused not against those who have dishonored his people, but against his people for dishonoring Jehovah (compare Zephaniah 1:17). While the devastation is wrought by a hostile army, back of it is Jehovah, who has made the enemy “the rod of his anger, the staff of his indignation” (Isaiah 10:5).
He shall make even a speedy riddance Literally, for an end, even a terrible destruction he shall make. The destruction will be complete (compare Nahum 1:8).
Them that dwell in the land As before, the land of Judah.
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